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Texas center fielder Josh Hamilton returns to the dugout after striking out in the sixth inning during the Los Angeles Angels vs. the Texas Rangers major league baseball game at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Sunday, September 30, 2012. (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News)

The Rangers boasted one of the most feared offenses in baseball for more of the season.

Texas led MLB in runs and hits, and were second in OPS. Yet the team suffered bouts of inconsistency down the stretch, and Scott Coolbaugh was replaced as the team's hitting coach Friday by former Red Sox hitting instructor Dave Magadan.

Morais writes that Magadan, widely considered one of the best hitting instructors in baseball, will improve the Rangers' offense "with or without" Josh Hamilton, the slugger who hits free agency this winter.

With Magadan at the helm of the Boston offense, players like Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Cody Ross enjoyed career seasons in 2012, and the Red Sox finished eighth in MLB in runs scored despite not having many of their biggest sluggers for much of the year.

"In short a period of time I've been with him, he's been unbelievable -- probably the best hitting coach I've ever had," Morais quoted Ross as saying. "He's very prepared, just outstanding, just great to be able to lean on when you need advice or someone needs to pat you on the back, saying, 'Keep going. Things are going to come.' It's definitely nice to have."

Morais also pointed out that Magadan has had plenty of experience working with big personalities in Boston, so the players on the Rangers' roster shouldn't prove too much for him to handle. And maybe most of all, Magadan's reputation as a coach who preaches patience at the plate could be critical for a team that at times seemed all too eager to hack at pitches out of strike zone.

"During his time with the Red Sox, the 50-year-old preached the importance of grinding out at-bats," Morais wrote. "His reputation, highlighted by his communication with players, should aid the Rangers."